System and method for generating 3D images of non-linear properties of rock formation using surface seismic or surface to borehole seismic or both

摘要

A system and method of characterizing properties of a medium from a non-linear interaction are include generating, by first and second acoustic sources disposed on a surface of the medium on a first line, first and second acoustic waves. The first and second acoustic sources are controllable such that trajectories of the first and second acoustic waves intersect in a mixing zone within the medium. The method further includes receiving, by a receiver positioned in a plane containing the first and second acoustic sources, a third acoustic wave generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first and second acoustic waves in the mixing zone; and creating a first two-dimensional image of non-linear properties or a first ratio of compressional velocity and shear velocity, or both, of the medium in a first plane generally perpendicular to the surface and containing the first line, based on the received third acoustic wave.

主权项

1. A method of characterizing properties of a subsurface rock formation from a non-linear interaction, the method comprising:
generating, by a first acoustic source disposed on earth surface, a first acoustic wave; generating, by a second acoustic source disposed on the earth surface spaced apart from the first acoustic source on a first line, a second acoustic wave, wherein the first acoustic source and the second acoustic source are controllable such that trajectories of the first and the second acoustic waves intersect in a mixing zone within the subsurface rock formation; receiving, by a receiver positioned in a first plane generally perpendicular to the earth surface and containing the first line on which the first acoustic source and the second acoustic source are spaced apart, a third acoustic wave generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first acoustic wave and the second acoustic wave in the mixing zone; and creating a first two-dimensional image of non-linear properties or a first ratio of compressional velocity and shear velocity, or both, of the subsurface rock formation in the first plane generally perpendicular to the earth surface and containing the first line, based on the received third acoustic wave.